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Fire chief proposes Firecore auxiliary to support non‑emergency department work
Summary
Kasson’s fire chief proposed a Firecore volunteer auxiliary to assist with non‑emergency tasks—fundraising, public education and event support—while council members raised liability, bonding and insurance questions and suggested routing support through the relief association or a separate nonprofit structure.
Fire Chief Joe presented a draft Firecore auxiliary manual to the council proposing a volunteer group to assist the fire department with non‑emergency activities such as fundraising, education and event support. Joe said Firecore members would not be sworn firefighters or carry pagers; the group would focus on logistics, public outreach and occasional on‑scene rehab assistance (water, blankets, shade) when coordinated with other agencies.
Chief Joe described minimum requirements and oversight: members would be at least 18, subject to background checks and training for assigned non‑emergency functions. Joe said the program is intended to reduce the burden on active members by assigning tasks such as pancake‑breakfast logistics and other event duties.
Council members asked whether the group would constitute a separate city board, how liability would be handled and whether volunteers would be bonded. Several members voiced concern that waivers do not eliminate legal exposure and suggested funding or bonding the auxiliary through the existing relief association or forming an independent 501(c)(3) to insulate the city. One councilor suggested the relief association could provide bonding and workers'‑comp coverage so claims would not be a direct city liability; others asked the chief to provide examples and documentation from nearby departments.
Chief Joe said he had directed a four‑member committee to assemble the draft using model language from larger departments and the National Volunteer Fire Council, and he committed to gather information from nearby departments on how they handle liability, bonding and operational scope.
The council asked staff and the city attorney to return with clarifications on liability, insurance and the recommended governance structure (department function vs. separate nonprofit), and to correct clerical issues in the draft (consistent spelling of the program name). No formal action to adopt the manual was taken; the item remains under consideration.
